2nd Year, February 14th, Valentine's Day.
Today was a very special day, and Harry knew that because of the way everybody seemed to be getting into pairs and snogging. He could barely contain his laughter every time a teacher caught two students making out with each other, in the hallways, no less!
After an excruciating day of dealing with random envelops that burst into love-hearts and poems, dinner had finally come and Harry was a bit eager to end the day. Of course, he hadn't received any Valentine's presents.. it was only to be expected, of course. Still, he couldn't help the bubbling disappointment as he dug into his food, in which everything was either heart-shaped or had a cupid's bow on top.
He felt a bit (really) embarrassed, that he hadn't gotten any Valentine presents. Even Ron got one! Poking at his food with a frown on his face, he bites into it, bitterly relishing in the fact that it still tasted wonderful.
It was barely 5 minutes in, and a voice had cleared its throat behind him. He didn't even know it was directed to him!
And then-
'Harry.'
It was a smooth voice, and instantly, Harry knew who it was before he could even turn around. Playing oblivious, he stays still and peacefully eats away at his food. Honestly, what did that guy want from him? He was probably just there to brag about his numerous love letters and presents.. sulking, he definitely does not pout while he bit into his potato. He can sense Hermione and Ron's eyes on him, probably urging for him to move, but he doesn't.
That was, until he felt a very sharp jab at his side, promptly causing him to choke on his food.
'Tom!' he says between the coughing fit, twisting around to see what was so important. 'What are you- oh! '
It was definitely Tom, as usual. But there was something different about it, now that Harry got a look at him up close. He had an unimpressed look on his face, of course, but other than that his hair.. looked more prefect that usual. His posture was pristine and straight, and his robes barely had any wrinkles at all. He looked like a sculpted statue, perfected over the years of amazing artistic talent-
Okay, he was getting a bit ahead of himself there, Harry thought, amused. His best friend really was handsome though, he couldn't deny it.
However, it wasn't Riddle's appearance that had gotten his immediate attention, no, there- right in his hand-
'Where'd you get the rose?'
It was a beautiful flower. Not a petal out of place or ripped, like it was frozen in time. The dewy droplets on the blood red rose added to that. Harry also noted that it was carefully removed of its thorns. Its stem was a beautiful deep green, and Harry wondered who Tom was going to give it to.
Tom looked at him, and smirked. He brought the rose up to Harry's face,
'Happy Valentines, Harry.'
It took a few moments for Harry to process that, and then, once his brain had processed the entire situation, he flushed at the gesture. Then, he flushed even more when he glanced around the Great Hall, only to find hundreds upon hundreds of pairs of eyes looking at him- Merlin, even the teachers were watching!
His face was undoubtedly glowing red right now, and from the corner of his eye he can see Ron gagging and Hermione swatting at his hair, looking between Tom and Harry with a hopeful and big grin on her face. She cupped her cheek and mouthed the words, "take the rose" eagerly.
He looked back at Tom, trying to find the words to say.
'I-' he started, and then cut himself off. 'Thank you, Tom.' he said sincerely, smiling up at him as he took the flower into his hands.
Right across the Great Hall, at the Slytherin table, he can see Draco Malfoy with a sour expression on his face, Theodore Nott wiggling his eyebrows, and Blaise Zabini pretending to throw up over the table.
Turning back to Tom again, and he's still smirking. Harry blushed, unsure of what to do now.
'I love you.' Tom says, Harry catches the pink on the other boy's ears. Harry felt his own pulse beat faster, probably from the coughing fit he'd done a few minutes ago. He hears a few "awws" and he finds himself partially mortified, for some reason. But also really happy, Tom must have seen how disappointed he was, when he didn't have any love letters! Maybe he's doing it so that he doesn't feel too disappointed.
'I love you too, Tom.' Harry smiles bashfully, 'You're my best friend. I really appreciate it.'
He hears a few drinks being spit out, and Tom's eye twitched violently.
A deathly silence ensued. With Ron now actually choking on his own spit and Hermione looking extremely exasperated.
At the Slytherin table, Theodore Nott was wheezing on the green tablecloth, banging a fist on it. Draco was sighing, shaking his head with a pointed look and Blaise was looking at Tom and Harry with shock and glee in his eyes.
Apparently, that was not the best thing to say..? He quickly tries to switch the conversation,
'Er- uh-' his mind whirled around for ideas, what did best friends do when exchanging gifts? He hadn't gotten Tom one..
Guilt swirled around in his stomach, he didn't even think of getting Tom a present! He didn't know friends got each other presents on Valentine's Day! He thinks a bit faster, what would be acceptable as a Valentines Day present..?
Oh!
He smiled brightly, having thought of an idea. He beckons Tom closer. Tom, raising an eyebrow, leans in closer.
Harry gently pulls Tom's tie all the way down, and brings his cheek closer to his lips-
'Mwah!' he said exaggeratingly, grinning. Tom pulled away quickly, and Harry let the tie slip from his fingers.
The dark-haired wizard was holding the place where Harry had just kissed with a tender hand, touching it gently with a flushed face, looking beyond pleased. His cheekbones had a deep pink as he smirked down at Harry smugly.
'Thank you.' he said smoothly, despite his ears still burning. Harry smiles awkwardly, he'd never kissed Tom on the cheek in front of so many people before.. he was beginning to feel a bit embarrassed.
Harry clutched the rose in his hand tightly, holding it close to his beating heart, which was honestly pulsing very fast- though he had no idea why.
He smiled softly, Tom stared into his eyes, wearing his own smile. It was a gentle one, one that not many people had seen before, but one that Harry was graced with more often than not.
'Get a room, you idiots!'